This Week at Studios – November 14, 2017

updates at the studiosWelcome to the first edition of  What’s New At The Studios. Each week we will cover the most up to the minute changes and additions at the park – no matter how minor or how major. Let’s look at the Studios in two views. First, the front of the house (front gate, Sunset and Hollywood Blvd., center stage, Echo Lake, and Animation Courtyard). Jingle Bell Jingle Bam promotional merchandise is located in the Five and Dime building. Likewise, abundant holiday merchandise is present in Pluto’s Toy Palace. Be sure to look for the brand new digital billboard that promotes Fantasmic by day and Sunset Seasons Greetings by night. Further down Sunset Blvd. you will find all the sidewalk benches gone. This is for better guest viewing all the holiday greetings.

Look for the new portable stage at Center Stage, with character staging areas to replace the former pop up tents behind the stage. This new structure supports all your favorite Star Wars daytime events. The stage is disconnected by Disney techs after the final “Star Wars A Galaxy Far, Far Away” events to allow for better guest viewing of the night time updates at the studiosspectaculars. Returning for the holiday season, the portable bar next to Brown Derby is open for business.

Moving over to Animation Courtyard, you may notice the “Last Jedi” poster adorns the exterior side of the Little Mermaid building. Sorry fans of “One Man’s Dream”, the theatre in Walt Disney Presents is now showing the new short Pixar Preview of “Coco”.

updates at the studiosWalking in the Backlot, you will find that the WDW radio sign is now absent from the exterior of the old Sounds Dangerous building near the Olaf meet and greet. The old walkway from Star Tours to the Muppet courtyard is now a group of portable trees. These also serve the purpose of hindering anyone’s view of the ongoing Star Wars Galaxy Edge construction. Once you make it to the stage 1 store, you will find the Muppet baby area under construction walls. You can still purchase Muppet merchandise, but only one wall in the entire store. More construction walls await you at the Muppet 3-D exit.

Wrapping up today with my latest Studios entertainment updates:

  • Jingle Bell-Jingle Bam makes its return with an 8pm show time. In front of the Chinese Theatre you can enjoy the dessert party 1 ½ hours before show time.
  • Fantasmic is now at 8:30pm, allowing guests to enjoy both night time spectaculars.
  • March of the First Order last show is now 4pm and A Galaxy Far Far Away final view is 4:30pm, due to recent Daylight Savings time fall back.
  • Jedi Training Academy has an evening show at 6:40pm you will really enjoy with night time lighting.

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May the Force be with you always!

Johnny Hollywood

Hey Everyone: I have enjoyed going to the Studios faithfully twice a week since 2011. My most memorable experience was camping out in front of the main gate for each of the four Star Wars Weekends in 2015!